The observations, stories, and reflections of a pastor on the coast of Maine. How do life, ministry, and the Good News connect?

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Prayer of Thomas Merton

As I was looking at Lindsay's blog, I found this prayer by Thomas Merton. How power the words are! A realization, like I often have, that I want to be following God's will, I believe I am following God's will, but in reality, only God knows if I am. I find comfort in Merton's last words of trust that God is always with me and will never leave me to face my perils alone. How do you see your relationship with Christ? Is it one of confidence, arrogance, assurance, doubt, uncertainty? I believe a humble relationship is a good place to start and grow. Humble in the sense of placing God in the center of our lives and allowing ourselves to follow one whom we cannot see, touch, hear, taste, but is always there in ways that we can't even begin to comprehend.

Prayer of Thomas MertonMy Lord God I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that my desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are every with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. Thomas Merton (1915-1968)

1 comment:

Dave, The Prayer of Thomas Merton has made the rounds..I took it from our last Sunday Bulletin..If was the closing Unison Prayer..So powerful in these most troubled days..All is as well as can be expected in Searsmont... Thanks again for the inspiration..Lindsay

The moon over Ambergris Caye, Belize

About Me

I have been serving as a Minister in the United Methodist Church since 1992. I began as a student pastor in Bynum, NC while I attended Duke Divinity School (I know, it's supported by tobacco money and has a Blue Devil as the mascot!). In 1996 I was apppointed to serve the Belfast UMC in Belfast, Maine. I have been married for over 25 years to a wonderful woman and we have been blessed with two boys (ages 23 and 21).